The scruffy sorcerer gets booted & suited

History will denote Paul Hartley's Herculean contribution to Hearts' most colourful and controversial season. The midfield playmaker's precision penalty kick against Aberdeen on Wednesday night was the decisive act of a compelling and ultimately enriching campaign.

Hailed a hero at Tynecastle amid the haunting background music of the Champions League, Hartley has allowed himself to dream of European adventure next season despite the sobering reality of two precarious preliminary rounds.

Regardless of Hearts' inaugural adventure in elite company, the kingpin is acutely aware that in order for the remarkable progress to perpetuate under Vladimir Romanov, and whomever the Lithuanian owner deigns worthy of being delegated team management duties, the Bank of Scotland Premierleague title must now become a realistic objective rather than a vague aspiration.

As he accepted the thoroughly merited player of the month award from the league sponsors, Hartley conceded that expectations will now reach giddy levels for phase two of the Romanov revolution at Hearts. With the owner having pledged to bankroll the necessary squad strengthening programme for next season's commitments, the existing members must also intensify their assault on the Old Firm.

"We now have to set out to try to win the league next season. That is the priority," he said, acknowledging the ceremonial heightening of the bar. "We have finished second in the league and in order to improve, we have to go one better.

"Mr Romanov wants us to be better than Celtic and Rangers. He says it may take three to five years but who knows what might happen?"

He is loathe to contemplate what might have happened on Sunday had Hearts required to take a result from Ibrox in order to confirm their superiority over a ramshackle Rangers. After Alex McLeish engaged in increasingly desperate, and ultimately futile, one-way psychological warfare against Hearts, the Rangers manager now faces an undeserved low-key farewell to four and a half years at the coal face.

Had the last round of fixtures turned in Rangers' favour, with Aberdeen at least holding Valdas Ivanauskas's side to a draw, Hartley's creased facial features confirmed the outcome may have been different.

"It would have been very difficult with 50,000 people cheering on their team and, to be honest, we would have felt the pressure," Hartley confessed. "Some would say we would have collapsed but we can go to Ibrox with the pressure off, play football and have a laugh . . .

"I think Rangers definitely were playing mind games with us because we hadn't been in that position before and it had been 10 years since anybody had split the Old Firm. We showed we are strong characters."

It is no exaggeration to suggest Hartley's run-up to a season-defining penalty would have been as stressful a time as any of the off-field dramas that have become public as a consequence of his new-found status.

The scruffy sorcerer's emphatic finish was typical of a self-assured season in which he has not only confirmed his imperiousness at club level, but become an international regular.

"The wait felt about 10 or 15 minutes and I had Zander Diamond in my ear saying 'miss it'," he recalled of the agonising moments prior to his kick. "I have been confident with penalties all season and just concentrated on hitting the target.

"We knew it was probably one of the biggest games in Hearts' history and I kept asking [the referee] Stuart Dougal how long there was to go because I just wanted it over with. Everybody was so nervous and it did seem at times we were hanging on a bit. We did not perform at all but the result was all that mattered.

"Everything that has happened has been a dream come true for me. To score 17 goals, get to a cup final and have the opportunity to play in the Champions League is great from a personal point of view."

It might have been so different had Celtic offered sufficient incentive to sign Hartley last year. Their first approach was rebuffed in January 2005 but it prompted the Celtic fan to submit a written transfer request. A £300,000 bid last July was rejected before the 29-year-old was offered a three-year deal.

There remains a suspicion the Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, may return when Stilian Petrov eventually leaves but Hearts, empowered by their recent feats and their owner's financial clout, are in a position of strength. Far from contemplating departure, Hartley believes Hearts' success can tempt Rudi Skacel and Andy Webster, among others, to stay.

"I have no regrets over the way things went because I have no control over speculation," he said diplomatically of his transfer request, "but it was only 12 months ago we were in real turmoil with no team and no owner with money. Hopefully what has happened will persuade Rudi, Andy and others to stay at the club."

Taken from the Herald